Sekai no Owari no Encore:Volume 1 Record.4

Record.4: Hermekia Dusk

1

The heat and the temperature which felt like it could choke you.

Simply breathing in the air would burn your lungs. A place where the atmosphere was filled with such high heat which made you feel as such.

The town of the blazing cliff, Jio.

“It’s hot! So this isn’t a heat coming from the people but the steam which is coming from the mountains right?”

“This is a town which lies before the Great Volcano of Galia after all. Over there, you can already see it.”

Ranges of mountains where the summit of the mountains were tainted red.

Fear pointed at the top of a mountain, an active volcano where the magma spurred, with her finger.

——The location where one of the Five Great Disasters, Demon General of Blaze Achendia, awaits them.

“Huh? Are you a bit nervous, Ren?”

“There’s no way I won’t be. I’ve been like this before we even entered this town.”

Even though the surface of his body was hot, the part of his body deep within was icy cold.

The tension and the fear. Even for Elise whose current body was that of after reincarnating herself, their opponent would be someone who a former Demon Lord such as herself cannot face alone to the extent that she sought for help.

“Anyways, am I the only one nervous?”

“Are you implying I am?”

“You are like usual, Kyelse. I’m talking about the parties scattered all over the places.”

The people that passed through the main street.

About half of them weren’t the residents of this town but the members of powerful parties. There were obviously MASTERSKnights that were forging that swords and also what appeared to be parties exchanging information.

“Oh my. Achendia sure is popular.”

Elise made a bitter smile while she looked at the presence of dozens of parties.

“They will all be slayed, I guess? I doubt they won’t be able to defeat not only Achendia but even her henchmen.”

“……Don’t say such scary thing naturally like that.”

“I’m dead serious. That’s because there aren’t any impressive bunch here.”

The parties gathered at this town must mostly be newly formed parties. They must have gathered here to get their fame by defeating the Demon General of Blaze.

“Huh? Aren’t you Ren?”

That was the time when a young man’s voice came from behind them.

“Oi, it really is. The so called fake Brave Hero.”

“That one, right? The one who failed last year’s promotion exam and is repeating his second year.”

“……Senpai?”

The two MASTERSKnights that were wearing top grade armaments with carved seals engraved in them.

They graduated Holy Fiora Journey Academy last year and formed a party among their five friends. For someone like Ren who had repeated a year, they were three grades his senior. That made them a grade above Fear.

——I wouldn’t forget.

——That’s because they were seniors that always tried to pick a fight with me ever since I enrolled.

“Hey, what’s going on here? Skipping classes, are we? You aren’t telling me you formed a party? You are still a middle-rank student and haven’t even graduated yet. You are still III-Grade MASTERKnight aren’t you?”

“Or did you withdraw from the Academy? Hey. Who are those young girls? Huh…..aren’t you——”

“It’s been a while.”

The party of five members that graduated from Holy Fiora Journey Academy. The one who the female ENCHANTERBarrierer among them looked at was Fear who was famous for being considered as the first prodigy ever since the establishment of the academy.

“I think your name was……Fear. The one who was being favoured by the instructors.”

“That would be an exaggeration for someone like me.”

The Archangel responded with a smile.

“So, how come all of you are here?”

“Hunting down the Demon General of Blaze. Having a hotshot like that showing up on earth rarely happens after all.”

The one who answered was the ARIACaster who was wearing a robe.

He was one of the top students who was ranked among the top ten of the graduates. Not only did he receive lessons from the instructors of the academy, but he was also famous for receiving special lessons from his teacher who was a professional ARIACaster.

“Fear, why are you here? Weren’t you supposed to graduate this year? And what about your party?”

“I already formed one. I decided to go on a journey together with Ren.”

“H-Hey, Senpai!?”

Fear wrapped her arms around Ren and hugged him gently.

“Eh……that was unexpected. What happened with your graduation exam?”

“I decided to graduate from the academy earlier on my own.”

“Huh! These guys sure are naïve minded. Even though you were the instructors favourite, you are playing party-game with this fake Brave Hero……”

The I-Grade MASTERKnight spoke in a scornful tone while he sighed.

“A student MASTERKnight who repeated a year and only looks like a Brave Hero while trying to act——”

“Shut up.”

Kyelse’s voice which was filled with anger cut of the young MASTERKnight’s words.

“Keep your mouth shut, human. Someone of your calibre is a thousand years too early to insult Ren who is my comrade.”

“Huh? What’s with this girl?”

“——Fool, if you really want to be crushed, then——”

“Alright, that’s it, Kyelse.”

Ren rested his hand on Kyelse’s shoulder who was shivering with anger while he smiled at her.

“It’s fine. What he’s saying is true.”

“Ren?”

“It can’t be helped. It can’t be helped if I get such comments.”

If it frustrated you, then you shouldn’t use words but make achievements with simple determination.

That was the reality in both the inside and the outside of the academy.

“Mmm……”

“Well, I was happy you became angry for me. Thank you.”

He smiled at Kyelse who was making a face due to her dissatisfaction.

——She became angry as if she was the one insulted.

That was the reason why Ren was able to keep his calm instead.

“So will all of you be hunting the Demon General of Blaze? The enemy is the great Demon. It would be too risky to challenge it when you just formed your party last year.”

“That’s why this is the situation we couldn’t ask even more for.”

The I-Grade MASTERKnight declared boldly.

“Look around you. Dozens of these parties are our allies. Most of the parties made an alliance and are preparing for a strategy to defeat the Demon General of Blaze. With these numbers, no one can stand in our way no matter who the enemy is. Obviously the reward and the fame will be shared among the parties. But even with that, what we will get is more than what we can ask for since our enemy will be a hotshot like one of the Five Great Disasters.”

They were currently coming up with a strategy.

Even though parties which would normally be rivals were everywhere, the reason why they were on standby without rushing was due to majority of these parties having made a temporally alliance.

“Bad news for you, Ren, since this has nothing to do with you. Do you think there will be a party which would form an alliance with you, an III-Grade MASTERKnight, and three girls?”

“Wrong. We don’t plan on—”

Just before he was about to say that they would challenge the Demon General of Blaze with the four of them.

The noises around them quieted down.

The sounds of hard footsteps could be heard from behind them. It wasn’t a sound of just several people. It was more than that. The footsteps which was timed perfectly with the sound of other footsteps. And the pace of their footsteps which had no flaws to each other——

“Hey, isn’t that……”

“Elmekia Dusk!? Why is the highest-level party with the most man-power in the world here? Does that mean a request of reinforcement was given to the supreme metropolitan of Elmekia!?”

Shocked voices which sounded like screams spread through the scene rhythmically.

ELMEKIA DUSK Royal 72 Order of the Special Knight Squad—— the highest rank party led by the Knight King Zellbright.

Twelve people that appeared in the town of the blazing cliff.

They wore their symbolic black battle-wear and progressed through the main street without even being concerned about the parties around them. Maybe they were overwhelmed by their silent pressure. It was clear that the groups of party members and pedestrians on the streets gave path to the members of Elmekia Dusk which was like a path was made in the sea.

——They are clearly different.

——The pressure given out from their body was very different from the other party members gathered in this town.

“What’s with those snobbish guys?”

“Elmekia Dusk. It’s the biggest party in the world. Not only in terms of numbers, but they are one of the strongest party in the world for having groups of the strongest MASTERSKnights among the elites as their core members.”

The one who answered smoothly to Kyelse who looked at the party without moving her head was Fear.

“Among the seven-hundred and twenty MASTERSKnights they have hired, only seventy-two of them can become the official party members. There’s nothing to criticise about their achievements and strength. But since there is a clear ranks in terms of strength, there are rumours that there is an intense battle happening to take higher ranks within the party at all times.”

“Looks like you are awfully well-informed.”

“I sure am. I haven’t been attending the party raising institute for four years for nothing.”

The Archangel responded with a smile.

“Hey, Ren?”

“Hmm……ah, yeah. There were certainly many seniors back in the academy who wanted to join the Elmekia Dusk.”

But the competition was very intense. Potential MASTERSKnights and ARIASCasters throughout the world gathered at the supreme metropolitan of Elmekia but only very few of them would be selected every year.

“I think the 1st rank was the Knight King Zellbright. I don’t see other high rank upper echelons among them either so I’m assuming that group is made up of lower ranks of the ELMEKIA DUSK Royal 72 Order of the Special Knight Squad. Even still, just as you see……you can tell they are clearly different from others from the atmosphere they are giving out.”

The noises finally returned to the main street. But the discussions were all about the Elmekia Dusk which had just walked past the street.

“……Geez. A troublesome bunch sure did come.”

“We really didn’t expect this.”

The ones who distorted their face with hatred was the party of the Holy Fiora graduates.

“Looks like we don’t have a time to waste anymore. ……See ya then, Ren. I will give you a good news before we go. There were rumours going around about you, though not much as Elmekia Dusk. The reason we found you is because we heard your rumours and thought that it may be you.”

“Eh?”

“Congrats, fake Brave Hero. You have already joined the celebrities even outside the academy.”

“……Ah, so that’s how it is.”

The rumour about a young boy who had a mirror image of the Brave Hero Elline.

It must mean that the rumour had spread fast even in this town of the blazing cliff. By the time Ren realised his senior was being sarcastic, the party of the five young members had already disappeared into the crowd.

At the large auditorium of the town of the blazing cliff.

A meaningful crimson carpet was laid on the passage. The windows for lightening the passage was set on both side of the wall where all of them had stained glass on them. So it gave a dazzling, yet sacred light.

“Wow, is the whole passage like this? It’s insanely gorgeous that I haven’t seen a beautiful building like this in Mstier. ……The world outside sure is amazing after all.”

Ren made a sigh of admiration after witnessing a scenery which was spacious as a castle.

“Hey, Kyelse. Don’t you think it’s amazing?”

“I don’t mind it, except why do we have to line up here for almost one hour?”

There are dozens of people behind them and also dozens of people front of them where all of them were people from different parties.

The Dragon Princess looked fed up by being surrounded by many humans.

“It’s for the party registration.”

The Archangel who hadn’t lost her usual smile.

“For requests such as that from towns, a set amount of money is prepared beforehand and is given to the parties where the reward would be determined by their achievements. You won’t receive a reward if you don’t register your party. And even if you did defeat one of the Five Great Disasters, you wouldn’t know which party had defeated it.”

“So it’s to distribute the reward and fame, huh. It sure is a cunning method a human would come up with.”

“You know, Kyelse, we wouldn’t be able to buy the sweets you are really fond of if we don’t have the money.”

“Hmm? That sure is a serious matter. We need to secure our reward then.”

Kyelse started to nod reluctantly.

“Oh well. You don’t need to worry since the only ones who is capable of defeating Achendia would be us so there’s no need to rush things~. Ren, you also need to give your all and survive, okay?”

“……Don’t say such ominous thing.”

Ren shrugged his shoulder after the previous Demon Lord slapped his back.

“But what about those guys? Maybe the Elmekia Dusk would be able to defeat Achendia……”

“Ren. Aren’t you taking the Five Great Disasters lightly?”

She lifted her eyes like a cat.

Elise made a fearless smile which could be considered disrespectful and looked up at Ren.

“You know they were Demons that were the candidates to become a Demon Lord three-hundred years ago? Ren, you said it yourself before but aren’t the members dispatched by the Elmekia Dusk lower rank members? Don’t you reckon they won’t be able to do anything?”

“I……Is that how it is?”

“Well, I would be grateful if they could stall one or two of Achendia’s henchmen at most. Majority of the Five Great Disasters are lone wolves but Achendia would be quite troublesome since she had many faithful subordinates under her. So having many parties come with us would be an advantage for us. We will have them deal with Achendia’s henchmen so we can concentrate solely on Achendia, you know?”

“They are that powerful huh. ……You’re right, they were strong enough to be the candidates of becoming a Demon Lord.”

The species known as Demons naturally had strength that were in different leagues to humans. For that reason they were called the superior beings and continued to rule the underground world known as the Underworld.

“————.”

“By the way, Kyelse, why have you been looking around yourself since a while ago?”

“It’s not me. Instead, we are the ones being looked at.”

The parties that bypassed them.

It wasn’t just them. Even before they entered the auditorium, merchants and salesboy of the street stall had been glaring at them with curious eyes and had been whispering at each other.

“They are saying, “So that’s the rumoured party a lookalike of the Brave Hero belongs to……”.”

“Eh? You can even hear them whispering even far from here?”

“You shouldn’t take lightly of a Dragon’s senses. Your appearance resembles Elline to begin with. And now the three of us is here with you as well.”

The Elline Sword Emperor Brigade which ended the End War with the only four of them. Everyone knew the legend of Elline and the Three Great Princesses which represented the three world.

And now there was Ren, a lookalike of the Brave Hero, and the three girls that were with him.

——Such party appeared for the hunt of the Five Great Disaster.

——A mere coincidence? Or do they have some connection with the famous Elline Sword Emperor Brigade?

There was no way the other parties and the town’s resident wouldn’t become curious.

“Oh well. The three individuals among us four is the real thing. Hey, do you think they will get shocked if we tell them?”

“……Don’t. It will cause a stir.”

Ren calmed Elise whose tone sounded like she was having fun.

“But the thing is, you will have to become one too, okay?”

“Me?”

“Don’t remain being called a fake Brave Hero and start working hard to become someone who would get called a Brave Hero since you are with us.”

“It’s too early.”

The one who said that was Kyelse who had candy inside her mouth.

“There’s no need for you to rush it. Ren, you need to aim from something easy first. It’s to become a Sword Saint.”

“……Both of them would be hard to accomplish.”

Fear rested her hand on Ren’s shoulder who had just said that.

“Ren. It’s our turn to register.”

It was one of the four counters.

The girl who appeared to be a receptionist looked towards them and started to explain in a nervous manner.

“You must be here for the special-code 09 “Five Great Disaster Hunt”. Please register your party’s name.”

“……Party name?”

The supreme metropolitan of Elmekia’s “Elmekia Dusk”, the holy-land of Canaan’s “Canaan Pilgrim, the Boat of the Sacred Teaching”, and also “Elline Sword Emperor Brigade” from three-hundred years ago had a party name taken from their territory or the name of their representative and such.

“Oh, crap. We haven’t decided yet. Any good name any of you can come up with?”

The three girls behind him showed a sign of thinking up a name for a moment.

“I do! Adorable Elise-chan and her happy-going subordinates!”

“The party led by the noble, the strongest, the beautiful Silver Dragon Princess who had woken from her long seal—”

“Why don’t we just stay anonymous?”

“……Fear-senpai’s suggestion it is. Please register as anonymous.”

Both Kyelse and Elise that were behind Ren started making a sound of displeasure but he acted as if he didn’t hear them.

“Registration is completed. For this quest we have requested the aid of Elmekia Dusk for the hunt of one of the Five Great Disasters. They would be heading out tomorrow morning.”

“So you are saying other parties should match them?”

“To have everyone cooperate, that is what we are asking for.”

The receptionist girl said that with a begging eyes.

“The subordinates of one of the Five Great Disasters are gathered at the summit. If we don’t suppress them before their forces increases more than this, there is a risk that this town would be destroyed……so I beg you.”

“It will be alright~.”

The one who waved her hand with easygoing tone was Elise.

“Rather, if Achendia felt like it she could have destroyed this town on her own. Since that hasn’t happened, it means she has no intention to destroy this town. She’s a moody individual. If she is in a good mood she wouldn’t do anything unless we take action so relax.”

“It doesn’t sound relaxing at all you know!? What would happen if her mood changes for the worst!?”

“That’s why we will take her down before that happens.”

The previous Demon Lord smiled.

“That’s why we should head to the inn. I have been sweating so I want to take a bath. You too, Kyelse.”

“The party’s name……the special party name I have been coming up with since yesterday……”

“That was the name you came up with after seriously thinking about it!? Oh well, anyways, let’s get going.”

Ren took Kyelse’s hand who was putting on a sulking face and left the auditorium quickly.

And then——the moment they came out. Noises. The parties and the residents that seemed to be waiting for them outside the auditorium all looked at them.

“Woah?”

“They were the parties that were looking at us before. I guess rumours brought more rumours and ended up gathering all these people.”

It was exactly like the situation when the Elmekia Dusk showed up before. They didn’t come to talk to them directly. But they were whispering to each other quietly.

“Ren. Let’s go. We need to book an inn first and have you concentrate on your training like usual.”

“…...Alright. The inn it is. Umm, I’m sure there was one this way.”

Kyelse who was following right behind him.

Ren walked through the main street while taking her small hand.

“By training, do you mean you will teach me about sword again?”

“At noon, yes. I will look after you in terms of swords. But at night it will be Fear and Elise. The ancient summoning, the one we had you train every day. It seems like you can’t hear the voices of the spirits yet. But we will have you continue it until we can.”

“……Roger that. Though I am trying.”

“It’s natural that you can’t perform it yet. It wouldn’t be called ANCIENTS“the lost spells” if it was that easy to acquire.”

The public road filled with people.

The silver haired girl then plainly said it while looking ahead.

“Even so, our battle against Achendia would be tomorrow. We don’t have time but we will have you train much as time would allow it. Both sword and ancient summoning.”

3

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